Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Two On Tuesdays...Textured Treasures

I've enjoyed the great privilege of working with some of the finest art jewelry galleries in the country and meeting some extraordinary jewelers. Two that particularly stand out are Janet Alix and Tami Dean.

I met Janet Alix years ago and immediately liked her. She is strong and centered, and she radiates a glowing positive energy that is just magnetic. She is an immensely talented jeweler, not just design-wise, but at the bench too. Her pieces are lush yet tight, richly colored with beautiful gems and silky pearls. The most noticeable thing about her designs are the unique textures she uses. She's developed several textural techniques including her "shardy bits", tiny design elements fused into the gold. I love the feel of them and the interest they add to each piece. Janet's jewelry is a delight to all of the senses!

Tami Dean has long been one of my favorite jewelers. Her designs feature high karat golds and gorgeous gems such as Boulder Opals, Chrysoprase, Diamonds and Tourmalines. Influenced by a range of life experiences from living in an original Greene & Greene style home to studying cultures in Latin America and West Africa, Tami's designs reflect a love of color and a keen eye for composition, melding archetypal shapes and forms with modern aesthetics. Sort of a cross between Mayan and Jetson, I like to call her highly textured style "astro-whimsical"...dynamic to the eye in all dimensions and so very pleasing to wear!